Tell us How You’re Rethinking Christmas!
Welcome to the Hope Chapel Gateway, Pacific View Church and City on a Hill Rethinking Christmas 2009 blog. Here we hope you will comment and join in the conversation this Christmas season as we together look at how we might rethink Christmas. Please feel free to tell us how you’re taking back the Christmas story as Christ followers. Invite us into your conversations, tell us how you’re blessing others, how your spending has changed, how you’re helping those less fortunate. We value you and your opinion and hope to learn how to better follow Jesus this season by your insights. So go ahead, blog away!
November 19, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Does this mean no Christmas gifts at all?
November 28, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Looking forward to the kick-off of Hope Chapel Gateway’s [Re]THINKING CHRISTMAS series on Sunday, November 29th! Pastor Ron’s bringing the message!
November 29, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Pastor Dean & Ron, You challenged us this morning to Rethink Christmas & do something in love that perhaps we haven’t done before. I plan to serve at the homeless & hungry meal on Dec. 10. I’ve done that before but I decided to do more & bake cookies for the meal. I talked to my daughter & she agreed to help me! We are both rethinking Christmas!
November 29, 2009 at 9:44 pm
We are not exchanging any gifts this year with my extended family or my husband’s extended family. This is the first year ever that our extended families are doing Christmas this way. We will just gather together, have dinner and be together. We are so thankful that there will be no gift exchange since it always added stress to our lives, and hoping it will stay this way forever!
November 29, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Carla, encouraging your daughter to ReThink Christmas with you is a great idea. I look forward to seeing her again on Thursday, December 10th at South Bay Church of the Bretheren to help serve the homeless and hungry. Thanks for your comment. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you as you ReThink Christmas!
November 29, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Carla C. is the first winner in the Hope Chapel Gateway “First 3 to Leave A Reply” sweepstakes! Carla, you can pick up your prize at the Information Center next Sunday!
November 30, 2009 at 2:06 am
So no gift for my friends and send cards instead??
I like this. One less gift more clean water.
November 30, 2009 at 3:40 am
Dean, I thank our Lord for giving our Pastors the wisdom and courage to step out in faith to take back CHRISTmas through this movement called Advent Conspiracy. I will spread the word and feel led to challenge myself and my family this CHRISTmas season to model Christ’s Love and “be a blessing to others.”
November 30, 2009 at 5:49 am
One of my favorite ways to give is to gift a sheep, goat, or baby chickens in a person’s name (through Samaritan’s Purse)- this provides income for a family in a 3rd world country. They even have gifts for under $15. Check it out at: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/gift_catalog/
November 30, 2009 at 5:53 pm
i’m excited to rethink christmas. it’s so easy to get caught up in the madness of what this season has become. let’s bring it back to its original intent. let’s bring it back to JESUS!
November 30, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Great night last night at worship!!! CoaH is certainly stocked about [Re]Thinking Christmas. Can’t wait to see how God changes lives around us.
BTW Michelle and Danny are the first two winners in the CoaH “First 3 to leave a reply” sweepstakes! Sill one prize left.
December 1, 2009 at 1:21 am
It would be wonderful if everyone could have the water that we have. I know we all wast so much .
December 1, 2009 at 2:40 am
As an older duffer & not in charge of any times of worship I was able to see how beautifully effected all throughout the meeting, actually…folk were anticipating that something was going to be different. But spiritually different in some way…sanctified different. Holy different. PTL different.
Pastor Steve always loves us so…but beside his face, only his whole body was into this to lead in a great, great direction. Our band was in awe on occasion so they too knew God was there. Awesome!
December 1, 2009 at 2:55 am
Pastor Steve always loves us so…but beside his face, only, his whole body was into this to lead in a great, great direction. Our band was in awe on occasion so they, too, knew God was there. Awesome.
December 2, 2009 at 5:30 am
First part in Hope Chapel Gateway’s series, “[Re]Thinking Christmas”. Pastor Ron Graff brought the message right on point!
Check out: http://sermon.net/hopegateway
December 2, 2009 at 2:13 pm
This is harder than I thought it would be partially because we have already cut way back on our spending for Christmas. Previous years have been so much leaner & now we are blessed to be in a better place. I am trying to figure out how to give more TIME to family that live farther away – perhaps it is a commitment to more visits, more phone calls & even more letters (or emails, I guess). FYI – cookies are not going to work for the homeless meal but we are doing candy canes with the Christian message behind them instead.
December 3, 2009 at 6:18 am
On my side of the family, the tradition has been to exchange gifts with the adults as well as the kids. On Millie’s side of the family names were drawn by the adults for gift exchange. This year it was decided to not draw names and only exchange adult gifts on my side of the family that are personally made at a very minimal expense. This has allowed us, because of the economical downturn, to maintain our commitment of giving to the church and to those from our church who are serving overseas.
December 4, 2009 at 2:18 am
Yesterday Chief Jim and I had the opportunity to visit a police officer (whom I have never met) who has cancer. As we drove to his home in a quiet neighborhood in Montebello, I was a little anxious, but confident that God was going to give us the insight and words to minister to him and his wife. Over the next 90 minutes we talked, laughed, and heard “war” stories chronicling a 27-year law enforcement career. With tears and vulnerability he shared of a deep love and gratitude for his supportive family and career in law enforcement. He talked about his connection to God and church that has been a foundation for an uncertain future. At the end of our time together we prayed thanking God for blessings and asking Him to be Healer and Comforter. I presented my new friend with a Police Chaplain “Challenge” coin that is a reminder that I’m praying for him. We said “good-bye” – matching emotion for emotion – sharing hugs and thanksgivings. As the Chief and I drove away, we were both amazed and thankful that God had led us and blessed our time together. And once again, I was not the minister, but the one ministered to. I’m blessed to be a blessing…only to be blessed again.
December 4, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Watch Christmas movies early with friends and family. Give to Samaritans Purse in honor of someone instead of a gift.
December 5, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Pastor Dean and I were invited to visit a colleague who has been battling cancer for the past couple of years and is now facing yet another surgery. This man is a well-experienced, true-blue police officer with 27 years of service in that profession and he has faced challenges before. But, as Pastor Dean and I drove to his family home in Montebello, we realized his challenge now is the greatest one of his life; and, it includes the affects that his cancer could have on his wife and two teen-age children. I always feel ill-equipped and inadequate to face a person who is dealing with such grave circumstances, but felt much better because Pastor Dean was with me and because I knew God would guide our itme together. I was surprised to realize we had spent 90 minutes with him and his wife as we all shared police stories, personal stories, and became genuine friends. Pastor Dean prayed for his situation and then presented him with a Police Chaplain “Challenge” coin as a reminder that he would be praying for him. Through the laughs, tears, and hugs, it was clear that God had used this time to minister to this couple – and, as Pastor Dean said: to us as well. So, even as they face a great challenge in the coming days, it is evident to me that they feel a true comfort knowing our Lord will be watching over them. It is amazing how God was able to use a difficult situation to provide blessings to us all.
December 6, 2009 at 1:24 am
Congratulations to Carla C., Jaimie, and Raul Chipeco! You three are the winners of a plate of dean-made “Magi Cookie Bars”! If the Magi were giving Jesus a sweet treat, they would have given Him these! You can pick them up at the information center on Sunday!
This week I will randomly choose three people who post a comment on this blog from Sunday (12-06-09) through Saturday (12-12-09) for a special prize!
December 6, 2009 at 8:31 am
Today my family and 12 others from Pacific View volunteered to work at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center in Santa Ana. It was quite an experience! The whole process of checking each shoebox, repackaging the damaged ones, listening to testimonies, to praying over the shoeboxes was so organized. If you ever thought that a shoebox might not make a difference, you need to hear the stories and testimonies that we heard in the warehouse! We met and exchanged stories from other volunteers; Aimee, Shelly and Susan were from Modesto. They arrived in LA on Thursday, worked all day on Friday and half day on Saturday. Our time passed so quickly and we had to leave to make room for the new volunteers that were arriving! I would like to see my family participate each year. With all the commercialization of Christmas, it’s so easy to lose your perspective on the true meaning of Christmas and the reason we worship Christ. We who have accepted Him as Lord should live in a way that we serve Him! Volunteering today was a true blessing!
December 7, 2009 at 7:02 pm
WOW! Thanks for this Sandy. Every year my family and I make boxes but hearing this encourages me all the more. Thanks for re-thinking Christmas.
December 7, 2009 at 3:41 am
While being inspired by the idea of changing Christmas I found this website: http://www.fh.org/give/catalog/food where you can buy food for others around the world to sustain them. You can buy a chicken for $25 or a fruit tree for $30 and so on. Its a great way to give back for what we have been blessed with and called to do.
December 7, 2009 at 6:57 pm
How cool is this? What a great idea, thanks for sharing Cheree.
December 7, 2009 at 4:20 am
Part II of the [Re]THINKING CHRISTMAS Series at Hope Gateway and City On A Hill, “Taking Back Our Story”.
“Thank you” to the people of HCG and COAH for your enthusiasim in worship! It was a joy to communicate God’s Word today!
Go to – http://sermon.net/hopegateway to hear this weekend’s message!
December 7, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Thank you Dean for your servants heart and bringing God’s word to us with passion and clarity! We thank God for you and your partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
December 7, 2009 at 6:05 am
I hear of many people who are giving the Merry Christmas greeting and some who are correcting others when they hear Happy Holidays. Everyone that said Happy Holidays, and I return with Merry Christmas – all say yes, or sorry, or you are correct. To really get a reaction, say God With Us.
December 7, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I’ve had the same experience. When I say Merry Christmas its like I’m giving the other person permission to say what they really believe and want to say.
December 19, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Working at Borders this season I have been saying Merry Christmas to everyone instead of Happy Holidays too and most people are responding with a positive response back.
December 8, 2009 at 5:07 am
Great message last night Dean. Pastor Steve and I had lunch today and we both are so thankful for the relationship between Hope Gateway and City On A Hill. Sue and I have been cutting back on presents for several years because we finally realized that we just have too much “stuff”. This year as we Rethink Christmas, we will continue our cut backs but we will do so with a real purpose in mind. On December 12th Sue and I will be ringing the bell for the Salvation Army Torrance Corps. On December 26th at the Marriott Hotel we will be helping to provide a turkey meal to seniors and the homeless. I have done this for the past two years and it is a wonderful way to give back to our community. Merry Christmas!
December 8, 2009 at 5:19 am
Rethinking Christmas is a wonderful way to bring Christ into first place in our lives and in the season. My sister and I have been knitting and crocheting scarfs and hats for family, friends and 1 adult at the orphanage in Mexico. We also bought practical gifts for a girl and a boy. Instead of buying gifts for each other we sent money to help feed the hungry children in Africa and helping through World Vision to help those in the US with clothes, food and school supplies. They have other gifts like clean water, chicken and goats for as little as $25. http://www.Worldvision/gifts.org We are also reaching out to those who are lonely and need fellowship during this Christmas season. Our hearts will be full as we love and serve others. Praise God!
December 8, 2009 at 6:39 am
Hey all,
I am really stoked about this rethinking business. It is putting into words (and actions) the way I have been feeling about Christmas for some years now. Perhaps being in the midst of hard times has helped to prime us for this–maybe a reminder of how far we’ve strayed.
I have sensed something different in the air for the last couple of weeks at COAH, and I think it is because we are challenging the way of the world around us! How exciting!
December 8, 2009 at 9:05 pm
just heard about this…
December 12, 2009 Coats for Kids Kick-Off. At the Strand in Downtown Huntington Beach, this event will include live music and prizes. Bring a new or gently used coat to donate to a homeless child.
December 9, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Seeing a difference in our thinking about how some of the youth at HCG are getting involved. It is exciting to see what God has planned for us.
December 11, 2009 at 7:09 pm
This year after we enjoyed a big family Thanksgiving meal we were all talking and decided that instead of doing the usual “cousin” Christmas present exchange, we wanted to do something for someone else less fortunate. The kids (ages ranging from 8 to 18) all talked about the options and finally decided that they would work throughout the month of December, earning money on their own (not just getting it from mom and dad) and on Christmas day they would come together, add up their money and donate it to Free Wheelchair Mission to purchase as many wheelchairs as possible. Check out http://www.freewheelchairmission.org, its an amazing organization.
December 11, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I should also add that as a gift to each other all the cousins started an e-mail chain letter where the receiver adds a nice comment or funny story about the cousin the letter is about and forwards it on to the next cousin. There are 9 of these chain letters floating around. On Christmas we will read all the stories and comments out loud together.
December 11, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I agree that this is what we have all needed. I have been feeling the
“bah humbug” attitude toward the commercialism of Christmas for a while. This idea of rethinking Christmas has really challenged me. This year we are supporting Comfort Zone Camp, the nation’s largest bereavement camp for kids ages 7-17. Check them out at http://www.ComfortZoneCamp.org for more information about this awesome organization! The camp is free to all kids and Comfort Zone will even pay to fly them to camp from out of state. We are also becoming more involved with serving the homeless. Our hard-earned money can be used for so much good, let’s not waste it anymore on useless things.
December 11, 2009 at 10:50 pm
I have felt for many years that Christmas for our families should be simplified in the sense of not feeling obligated to give so many gifts. This year is going to be the best, least stressful Christmas ever. My side of the family isn’t even doing the “white elephant” game and we’re just giving to the children (there are only two) and my husband’s side of the family is drawing names this year instead of giving to everyone. I’ve always felt that the important part of the day was to just be present with our families and honor God. Not having to buy all the gifts and open them has created a more peaceful season and will create a more peaceful
Christmas day. I’m so thankful for the pastors leading us into different kind of Christmas!
December 13, 2009 at 1:27 am
Congrats to Diana Smith and Loki Efaw! You are this week’s winners of HCG’s Torrance [Re]THINKING CHRISTMAS blogger’s contest. Your names were randomly chosen out of “hundreds” of [Re]THINKING CHRISTMAS bloggers!
You have each won a fresh “Maui Gold” Pineapple – http://www.mauipineapple.com/…the sweetest and juiciest pineapple in Hawaii. Pick up your prize at the Information Center on Sunday.
Next week, we will again randomly choose a few bloggers to be winners!
Keep Blogging HCG!!!
December 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm
We just got back last night from La Gloria, Mexico where Colina de Luz, a Christian home for abused kids, is located. Through torrential rain, mud slides, getting lost in T.J. and of course the border waaaaaait (all just a little exaggerated), our Lord once again blessed us with another safe “adventure” and we were able to bless 83 kids and staff with our special “HCG chilli dogs” and each a CHRISTmas gift! Though ultimately, it was they that blessed us! We thank all the loving, generous people of HCG, who funded 100% of this outreach, for all their continued support and for modeling Christ’s love to these kids at this unique and loving Christian home! You should’ve seen those BIG SMILES! Way to go HCG for modeling “Rethinking Christmas 2009″ and remembering “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!” Join us for Christmas 2010!
December 13, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Website for Colina de Luz, Christian Home for Children in Mexico is http://www.colinadeluz.org
December 13, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Pastor Steve Ernst did a great job this morning on Part III of the [Re]THINKING CHRISTMAS Series at Hope Chapel Gateway and City On A Hill – “Jesus: Our Disenfranchised Savior”.
Audio available now at – http://sermon.net/hopegateway to hear this week’s message.
December 14, 2009 at 5:35 pm
so i was thinking…Christ came to set us free, right? well, rethinking Christmas is doing just that. it seems like everyone is sensing the freedom of saying “merry Christmas!” and giving to those in need instead of being uptight with begrudgingly offering a “happy holidays”, for fear of offending, and stressed about crunching the budget to buy overpriced gifts.
it seems that if we allow Christ to be the “reason for the season”, then we are living exactly what He has desired for us from the beginning…FREEDOM!!
December 14, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Check out an Advent Conspiracy report on CNN – http://tinyurl.com/y9e6ehl
December 14, 2009 at 10:42 pm
This year with rethinking Christmas, my book club ladies and I are giving to an organization called Heifer International. We will buy a pig, chicken, or cow to share with the needy in other countries. My book club is very excited about doing this. I also had a friend tell me that instead of giving gifts this year she is going to give donations to organizations in need under their names. I thought that sounded like a great idea and will do that also.
December 15, 2009 at 2:44 am
Sometimes it can be the hardest thing to show children that giving less can mean the most to people who have very little to begin with. A project that I do during different times of the school year, I ask my classroom kiddos to bring in a piece of fruit from their homes to make a giant fruit basket for a family at our school that is in need. During a month when they are all about “what am I going to get?”, I have made them think of others. Even though they are only 2nd graders at a public school, their hearts are so excited when we make the basket. They want to place their fruit “just right” so all of them can be seen within the basket. They are proud of that one piece of fruit that they bring, knowing that a family in need will get a much need blesing during what could be a tough month! They want to know that their piece of fruit helped in such a generous way. They don’t need to know what family will be getting the gift but rather that they were a part of something special! Everytime I do the fruit basket project with my classroom, I know the good my class is doing. Doing the fruit basket this week with my classroom will be much more fulfilling for me as a Christian due to the fact that I have been rethinking Christmas. Not only does it have more meaning but it also brings me more joy! My class and I are going to be spending less but giving more! : )
December 15, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Great talk last night with my wife about giving to a family on hard times where she works. Buying less to give more!. It is awesome to see God working in our lives. More to come…stay tuned.
December 17, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I was actually motivated by the last series Pastor Dean was preaching on spiritual growth. I took taking a weekly sabbath to heart because I work every weekend. I would feel guilty about taking a weekday off while everyone else was working. Pastor Dean said to do everything you need to do the other 6 days & TRUST that the Lord will help you to do so & help you get everything done in those other 6 days. Shortly after this message I got an email from a friend inviting me to a bible study @ her church – a Christmas Bible Study. In the past I would’ve deleted the email thinking that I way too busy to do this study – especially during the holiday season! Tonight is the last night & I am so happy that I slowed down this year & took the time to focus on the real purpose of Christmas.
December 18, 2009 at 10:06 pm
This year I am thinking about how big a sacrifice Jesus life on earth was. When Jesus was here he was away from His father and the ones who were around him did not understand what He was trying to accomplish. His disciples spent much of their time really in the dark. It must have been difficult for Jesus to put up with them at times. Since we now have the complete word of God and the extra benefit of the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can see the error of their ways and how the disciples missed opportunities with Jesus. I also know I am easily distracted and miss I opportunities with Jesus. Jesus sacrifice on the cross paid for my sins and His love for me reaches me even if I turn away from Him. So this Christmas time if my plans do go right and the ones I love do not show up on time I pray that I will remember what Jesus did for me.
December 19, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Great news! This “rethinking Christmas” is contagious! I shared with my mom how Dan & I were giving 3 gifts “away” this year & she wanted to contribute to the family that we are giving to as well!
December 20, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Visiting the orphanage had a great impact on me. I have always been greatfull for the things I have and for all the beautiful things in nature. After today’s service I came home, baked some cookies, put some yogurts in a bag and brought them to an elderly neighbor across the street from me. She was so happy and sweet. She invited Jim and I into her home and we chatted for nearly an hour. I felt so blessed as we left knowing that she enjoyed the kind gesture. But even more so loved the company and conversation.
December 21, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Part IV of the [Re]THINKING CHRISTMAS Series at Hope Chapel Gateway – “Scandalous Grace”
Audio available now at – http://sermon.net/hopegateway
December 24, 2009 at 3:27 am
Still struggling with exactly what to do to Rethink Christmas. Have all kinds of ideas but nothing was working out. Saw a man asking for money at the freeway exit on the way to Disneyland. My husband didn’t want to give him money while the kids were in the car (too dangerous). Wanted to go to the laundromat on Christmas Eve across the street & pay for everyone’s loads until the quarters ran out (too dangerous per my husband for me & the kids). He suggested paying for people’s orders at Bonello’s but they are closed tomorrow. And then it hit me – a friend is in Las Vegas at the hospital with her mother who is recovering from being hit by a drunk driver last week. Her husband & 2 small kids are here at home. I offered to bring them dinner & he asked if tomorrow would work as they are covered today. SUCCESS!! I can be a blessing and be blessed at the same time. I realized it is not always strangers who need God’s love & our gifts. Thank you God for reminding me. I have also realized that churches need grace too & I am going to Christmas Eve worship at my former church setting aside the grudge I have been carrying over how some things were handled. Glory be to God!! Thanks Pastor Dean for reminding me through God’s Word about Scandalous Grace!